East Lothian24/1

The first set of the final was a tight affair early on, however, it was the English duo who pulled away from 5-4 up after six to score 2,3 to be six up playing the last and secured the first set with a 10-6 scoreline. Again the second set proved to be a cagey and close affair early on the scores tied after five of the nine ends. Paul and Alex score 1, 2 on the next two ends to be three up with only two ends to play as they aimed to take the match to a tie-break. On the penultimate end Greg Harlow started the end with two precision bowls to set Alex a tough task to make the shot, however, with his second bowl he touched the jack only for it to remain between the two English bowls. Alex played a runner with his last bowl but was just under the target and unfortunately flicked an English bowl into the head to leave them lying three shots. This set up an enthralling last end with the English going for the title and Paul and Alex looking to extend the match to a tie break. After Paul and Greg had played it was the Scots who just lay the shot after six bowls within 18 inches from the two leads. After Nick had failed to improve the head Alex drew a side toucher which was not removed and the match went to a tie break. On the first tie-break end Alex went to the mat with one shot against him and wasn’t able to change the head so it went to the English pairing. On end two the Scots lay until Nick drew the shot with his first bowl, leaving Alex with two deliveries to save the game. His first was just heavy and Nick drew an even closer shot. Alex had nothing but a dead draw and played another of his world class precision deliveries to draw the shot and after his opponent missed with a runner the game went to a final deciding end. Alex went to the mat with one jack high shot against him on the final end and unfortunately just failed with each delivery which seen the English duo claim the title.

Alex opened his singles campaign with a comfortable 10-3, 11-3 victory against Lawrence Quill from the USA last Tuesday and was due to face Les Gillett on Tuesday afternoon in the second round. John McCrorie faced fellow Scot and number four seed David Gourlay last Wednesday. David captured the first set 8-3, however, John battled back strongly to lead throughout the second set and seen it out 9-8. The tie-break was to prove a disappointment for John with chances on both ends to grab the shot required, however, it was David who won both to move forward to the second round.

East Lothian Gents ended the unbeaten run of league leaders Blantyre last Saturday with a very impressive 85-52 win. While the gents team cannot catch Blantyre due to their shots difference with only one game to go this gives them a boost prior to the Scottish Cup campaign starting soon. Derek Oliver’s rink were top scorers with a fourteen shot win over the rink of Scott Bishop while Scott Kennedy’s rink also won by double figures with an eleven shot win over Jim Meikle. Joe Mower was always in control against Brian Irvine and won by nine shots while Billy Mellor’s rink finished strongly to score five shots over the last three ends to lose narrowly by one shot to Iain Mclean. The gents finish their campaign with a visit to Lanarkshire and welcome to the team the vastly experienced Colin Glen, making his debut in the following team: M Yuill, J Gordon, D Riva & D Oliver (Skip) L Middler, C Brock, C Glen & S Thomson, J Higgins, K Dodds, S Morgan & S Kennedy,A Betts, C Darling, A Jeffrey & B Mellors

Mark Johnston travels to Hayling Island this weekend to take part in the British Isles Senior (Over 50) Double Rink Series. Mark is leading in a rink which consists of Stuart Pagan, Colin Smith and Robert Grant (skip) and will be aiming to help the team defend the title they have won for the past three years, two of which Mark has been involved in.

The East Lothian Under 35 team commence their campaign in the SIBA Under 35 cup this Sunday when they travel to Bainfield to take on the combined Abbeyview and East Fife team at 2pm. Team manager Derek Oliver has named the following team: C Darling, B Riva, L Betts & D Riva (Skip)
A Martin, G Blair, D Sked & E Fallen, M Yuill, K Dodds, A Betts & S Thomson, D Hoggan, C Brock, J Robertson & C Fallen,Res: K Cunningham, R Shields, J Bathgate, S Reid & C Henderson

The ladies won their last game of the league campaign last Saturday when they travelled to Abbeyview and defeated their hosts by two shots in a match where all three games were extremely close. Janet Fairnie led her rink to a two shot victory whilst Lauren Baillie-Whyte held on in her game to win by one shot and Dee Hoggan’s rink were narrowly defeated by one shot having scored five shots over the last three ends. With the win the ladies secured third place in their section and they are next in action in the Scottish Cup on the 15th February when they play East Fife at Headwell.

The Garden County Senior brigade began the knockout stage of the league campaign last Wednesday as they faced Alloa in the quarter finals. The seniors opened up best and led by two shots after five ends and kept their foot on the gas throughout the game to increase their lead to eight shots after ten ends and then stretched away to lead by fifteen shots at the fifteen end mark. The final result was a comprehensive 78-56 victory to set up semi-final against Aberdeen which was due to be played at Headwell on Wednesday. Rink scores seen Willie Wood’s rink win 24-12, Andy Burt’s by 25-14 and Tommy Young;s rink recorded a 21-14 success whilst Graham Robertson suffered an 8-16 defeat. The team remained unchanged for the semi-final and was as follows: L Middler, J P Hamilton, D Berwick & G Robertson (Skip), J Neilson, R Maguire, A Russell & W W Wood MBE, B J Smith, D Pryde, A McKenna & A Burt, P Fallen, K Fender, D McGill & T Young, Res: A Stewart and R Douglas

Last Monday the East Lothian Seniors Top Six team played Bainfield at Midlothian in the Central District Top Six. Lessel Middler was victorious by 21-12 in the singles whilst Dougie Berwick and Tom Young recorded a 17-6 win in the pairs and the triple of John Hamilton, Ali McKenna and Andy Burt won 16-8. The team now face Lanarkshire in the next round.

The Jock Brodie Seniors Challenge Trophy sponsored by N T Craig, Tom Young Plumbing & Electrical Services and Colin Glen Roofing got underway last Wednesday with the East Lothian “B” team defeating last year’s runner-up Perth 6-2 while the other game resulted in a share of the spoils in a 4-4 draw between Bainfield and West Lothian.

East Lothian youths resumed their defence of the league last Saturday when they visited Bainfield. Kieran Dodds and his rink had an impressive 34-3 win over the rink of Jason Purves. Beth Riva’s rink were involved in a game where the lead changed hands on several before a four at the seventh end put them in front and they never relinquished the lead from this point to win 17-13. Aaron Bett’s rink trailed 6-1 against Abbey Cairns after five ends, however, they then went on to score on seven of the last eight ends to record a 12-7 victory. This Saturday East Lothian travel to Dunfermline to play Abbeyview in a game that will go a long way in deciding who wins the league. The following team has been selected for this huge game: Rory Glen, Daryl Grieve, Callum Henderson, Aaron Betts , Ethan Gillies, Abi McNeill, Lennon Rafferty, Beth Riva, Luke Cowan, Daniel Kivlin, Logan Kennedy, Kieran Dodds.